With the New Year comes the opportunity for all of us to set resolutions for a happier and healthier 2025. Committing to self-care is an important goal for any age, but unfortunately many of us abandon our New Year’s resolutions by February. Maybe, instead of large goals, teens and their parents could plan for small habit changes that will lead to better physical, mental, and emotional health.
In his book Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, author James Clear explains how, just as a one degree adjustment in course can change the trajectory of a flight, the smallest changes in behavior can lead to real and lasting growth. This is good news for teens and adults who are hoping to practice more self-care in 2025.
Here are some tiny habits that can lead to real health benefits this coming year:
For better physical health:
- Try eating one new food each week.
- Drink a small glass of water every morning and night.
- Get to bed a half hour earlier on school or work nights.
- Add ten minutes of movement to each day.
For better mental health:
- Name one thing for which you are grateful each morning and evening.
- Connect with a friend or family member by text, phone, or letter each week.
- Spend some time outdoors each day.
- Perform one act of kindness each day.
For better emotional health:
- Take three long deep breaths each morning, noon, and night.
- Consider a new hobby, do things that bring you joy.
- If overwhelmed, take a few minutes and write about it.
- Speak gently to yourself as if you were speaking to a friend.
For more positive ways to make a difference for young people and families in our community, visit the KidMatter website at www.kidsmatter2us.org.